Setting up Java

As I know nothing about Java (or Java Script), I first have to clean up the Java mess on my computer.

I figured if I’m going to learn about Java etc., I’d first better clean up and update any references to it on my computer.

This may be the wrong forum. Is there one for utter Java dummies that would be more appropriate to post this questions?

1. I looked in Start, All Programs and didn’t see it.
2. I checked add and Remove Programs and found something about it (an update) but I’m sot sure if I should remove it…………please advise.
3. I want to download the latest version (of Java) and was advised to remove any previous versions first so I suspect the answer is yes, remove it…………but not sure
4. I did a search (entire computer) and found a lot of stuff about it. I would like to know if there’s a quick and easy way to clean all this up or do I have to analyze (properties etc.) each individual item and try to decide what to do with them.

Just to reiterate what I posted in the topic that this was split from: don't even think of Java and JavaScript in the same sentence. They have nothing at all to do with each other. Pretend that JavaScript was still named LiveScript or was named EcmaScript, and know that it's a completely different language with different uses than Java.

You seen to think the java executable is a tool that you use for programming. It's not. It's the runtime environment that executes your code after you write it. You can program using a tool like an IDE such as NetBeans, Eclipse, or IntelliJ, but for beginners, it's better to just use a decent text editor. (I forget the names--TextPad? UltraEdit?)

Although before you even do that, you ought to figure out if you're interested in Java or JavaScript. As Bear says, they're completely unrelated to each other, and, though they interact in some situations, they serve different roles and neither one relies on the other.

"Java is to JavaScript as ham is to hamster."
--Somebody

John Gordon Martin
Greenhorn

Joined: Jan 14, 2012
Posts: 15

posted Jan 14, 2012 10:55:34

0

Thanks,

I’ve spent the last hour learning that Java and JavaScript are not the same thing and now I understand that much.

So now:

I was advised that the way a PDF on my website is displayed in a browser has something to do with JavaScript.

John Gordon Martin wrote: I was advised that the way a PDF on my website is displayed in a browser has something to do with JavaScript.

Not necessarily. JavaScript may be involved in that in certain cases, but it never needs to be just for the download and display part.

The main use of JavaScript is to add "on-the-fly" logic to content delivered from a website to your browser. The web server sends down a bunch of bytes. Some of them may just be plain old HTML that your browser displays as text, images, links, etc. But some of what comes down from the server may be JavaScript code, which your browser reads and executes. This allows it to perform more dynamic operations locally without having to ask the server to send down another page. So, theoretically, JavaScript might be used while you are working on a page to generate the name of a PDF file that it will then ask the server for.

So now I need to learn about, how to use etc. JavaScript.

Why? What are you actually trying to accomplish?

Am I in the right forum for this?

No. This forum is for Java. I think there may be a JavaScript section elsewhere on this site. In fact, I think Bear may have pointed you to it in your earlier post.

Jeff Verdegan wrote: You seen to think the java executable is a tool that you use for programming. It's not. It's the runtime environment that executes your code after you write it. You can program using a tool like an IDE such as NetBeans, Eclipse, or IntelliJ, but for beginners, it's better to just use a decent text editor. (I forget the names--TextPad? UltraEdit?)

I'm using Notepad++-- it's one of the nicer editors I've used on Windows. On my Linux half I use Scintilla which also has the bonus of being familiar as Notepad++ is based on the same source code-- don't really need Vim, Cream or Emacs, all those editors have too many features which are distracting while learning to program really. Don't need to hit some key combo that triggers some behaviour I didn't expect while puzzling out the latest code snarl.

Having just learned that Java and JavaScript are not the same thing, I assumed (incorrectly apparently) that this entire website (http://www.coderanch.com) is only for JavaScript.

If I understand correctly now, I am in a forum for Java as opposed to JavaScript?

I hope so because I was just Googleing a search for this kind of forum.

If this is the right forum this time, can someone help me with the questions I first posted and the attachments to it? E.g., cleanup Java messes on my computers so that I can do a clean download of the latest version of Java.

I’ll try to explain what I’m trying to do when I figure out (with some more guidance) which forum to post it in……………later, after I deal with the first mess.

If I understand you correctly-- what you really want to do right now is a clean reinstall of Java right? Normally if I need to clean reinstall anything I go to the Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs, uninstall it, then use CCleaner to clear the registry. The suggestions made in this thread might also be helpful.

John Gordon Martin
Greenhorn

Joined: Jan 14, 2012
Posts: 15

posted Jan 14, 2012 13:13:36

0

Yes!

I’m amazed that I was able to word my question in a way that you could understand.

And Whoopty Bang! I even have CCleaner. I sort of think that there may still be some kind of debris left but I’ll ask the CCleaner folks abut that.

Thanks and I hope your having a good New Year so far………….too soon to tell, we’ll see.

John Gordon Martin wrote:Having just learned that Java and JavaScript are not the same thing, I assumed (incorrectly apparently) that this entire website (http://www.coderanch.com) is only for JavaScript.

CodeRanch cover many languages.

If I understand correctly now, I am in a forum for Java as opposed to JavaScript?

No, as I said. CodeRanch covers many languages. Java is its primary focus, but if you look through the forum listing you will see many different languages represented, including JavaScript.

If this is the right forum this time, can someone help me with the questions I first posted and the attachments to it? E.g., cleanup Java messes on my computers so that I can do a clean download of the latest version of Java.

As I asked in your other post, for what reason are you trying to use Java? If it's just to solve your PDF problem, you may be barking up the wrong tree.

That’s ok; at least I learned the difference between Java and JavaScript. Now I can clean up the Java messes on my computers and go back to the PDF forums to see if they can help. I’ve received an email from one which says they may have the solution.